Summary: Are you looking for queries like Outlook drag and drop not working, attachments not showing, & how to enable this option in Outlook. Then, this post is for you! You will see potential causes, manual methods to fix, & use our professional solution to avoid all these problems and handle Outlook attachments in the right way.
Table of Contents

Direct Indications of Outlook Drag & Drop Problem

Before going with the steps, users should identify the exact issue first in order to apply the right method to fix Outlook drag and drop not working problem.
  • Users can’t drag emails to some other Outlook folder
  • Not able to drag attachments using  desktop system
  • You cannot attach files into a new mail
  • It will shows not allowed icon while moving
  • The drag n drop mode does work in Windows but not in Outlook
  • When your emails are moved, but not your attachments

Why is New Outlook Drag and Drop Not Working?

There are some factors that can stop Outlook from performing a drag-drop method.
  • When you run Outlook as an administrator, while file explorer is running normally
  • Windows stops drag-and-drop between apps for security reasons
  • Using a corrupt Outlook profile will create errors such as failure to drag and drop
  • Due to temporary cache or memory problems, your Outlook will be stuck
  • Older versions might have bugs that Microsoft already fixed in updates for recent versions
  • It may not work properly due to missing or damaged Office components
  • Your new Outlook app does not currently support all drag & drop features which are available in Classic Outlook.
  • It is different for some users after moving to the new version
How to Enable Drag and Drop Attachments in Outlook? Many users have this doubt of enabling drag and drop features within Outlook settings. The answer is No. Outlook does not have a specific setting for your drag & drop attachments. It is because you have a system issue when the feature is no longer working. It means that they must be set up to exist with Outlook or software clashes. Instead of this, follow the below manual methods.

Also Read: Fix “Outlook AutoComplete Not Working” Error – 8 Ways

For more control on how Outlook handles attachments, you can read our guide on change attachment settings in Outlook.

Resolve Outlook Drag and Drop Not Working Issue – 12 Manual Fixes

Follow these quick steps to see which is most effective for your drag & drop issue. Let’s begin Step 1. Restart Outlook Sometimes, following the simple method can be your best move.
  • First, close Outlook completely
  • Next, open Task Manager tab
  • End, if any other Outlook application is running
  • Start your Outlook again
  • Now, use the drag and drop method
This clears out temporary glitches without making changes to your existing data.

Step 2. Uncheck Administrator Mode in Outlook

Users can use this method too to fix Outlook drag and drop not working error.
  • Close Outlook, if it’s open
  • Right-click on the Outlook shortcut
  • Select on Properties
  • Next, go to Compatibility tab
  • Uncheck Run as Administrator mode
  • Click on Apply button
  • Restart Outlook
task manager Now, check whether the drag and drop method is working or not. Step 3. Restart Windows Explorer Here, users get the option of drag and drop to move their attachments.
  • Start by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut key
  • Go to Windows Explorer
  • Right-click on it
  • Select Restart
After Explorer refreshes, try again to drag your attachments. Step 4. Start Outlook in Safe Mode It is also effective because in safe mode all your add-ins.
  1. Press Windows + R.
  2. Type:
outlook.exe /safe
  1. Hit Enter. 4. If the drag-and-drop doesn’t work in Safe mode, then an add-in is responsible
Step 5. Disable Unknown Add-ins To know the exact problem in add-ins.
  1. Open Outlook
  2. Now, click on File > Options > Add-ins
  3. Select COM Add-ins
  4. Tap on Go
  5. Disable all add-ins & restart Outlook
  6. Turn them back on one at a time until the problem comes back
  7. Now, just remove the add-in.
Step 6. Update Outlook If you are using a previous version of Outlook, then it can cause compatibility issues.
  • Open Outlook
  • Go to File > Office Account
  • Click on Update Options
  • Under it, choose Update Now
  • Check & install updates, if any

Step 7. Repair Microsoft Office

Repairing your Office will recover Outlook files when they are corrupted.
  • Open Control Panel
  • Go to Programs and then Features
  • Select Microsoft Office
  • Click on Change
  • After that, choose Quick Repair
  • If necessary, do Online Repair too
  • Lastly, restart your computer afterward
Step 8. Create a New Outlook Profile Having a corrupted profile is also the reason behind Outlook drag and drop not working issue.
  • For that, open Control Panel
  • Select Mail
  • Click Show Profiles
  • There, create a New Profile
  • Configure your email account
  • Make it one as default one
  • Again repeat the drag-and-drop method
Step 9. Check Windows Update
  • Windows updates will also fix compatibility issues between Outlook and File Explorer from time to time
  • Check if there are any pending updates or not.
  • If yes, install & download it first
  • Then, restart your PC
Step 10. Restart your Computer A full restart to your system will also refresh Windows services, Outlook processes, and Explorer to eliminate problems on temporary basis. Step 11. Switch to Classic Outlook
  • Understand that some drag and drop functions work differently or are still not available in the New Outlook experience
  • Therefore, users face New Outlook drag and drop attachments not working issues
  • If your work is to drag your emails, then move back to Classic Outlook
  • It should resolve Outlook drag and drop attachments not working problem until Microsoft provides more support
Step 12. Use Another Outlook Account to Verify You can see if the drag & drop method is working properly under different Windows user accounts or not.
  • Then, the problem is within your Windows profile, & not in Outlook.
  • This could be because of profile corruption. To check, create a new user profile

Opt our Automated Solution to Manage Outlook Attachments Easily

If you are using manual methods to deal with Outlook drag and drop not working issues. Especially, while you have to save files from multiple mails. So, you can use our SysTools Outlook Attachment Extractor to save time, rather than doing it one by one.

Also Read: How to Fix Outlook Attachment “Array Index out of Bounds” Error?

It is very effective to extract attachments from bulk Outlook PST files. Also, it neglects the manual challenges. The tool continues to preserve the native folder structure and save it to your location. You can even work with your attachments outside the Outlook application. Key Features:
  • Bulk extract attachments from Outlook emails
  • Keep attachments anywhere you want
  • Maintain original folder structure
  • Search filter by date, sender, subject and attachment type
  • Save attachments outside Outlook to lower mailbox size
  • It supports both Unicode and ANSI PST files

End Note

We have discussed Outlook drag and drop not working issues, which can be frequently annoying in day to day activities. But, it can easily be resolved with troubleshooting steps. We have given 12 manual fixes for users to follow. But, if your main objective is to organize the Outlook attachments in a well-structured way. For that, using a manual drag and drop method is not ideal for that task. If you have Outlook, then use our expert software to extract attachments in bulk, and it will automatically sort folders from your mailboxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Outlook drag and drop not working?

Common causes are Outlook opened as administrator, a corrupt profile, cache problems, an outdated version or limits in the new Outlook.

How can I fix Outlook drag and drop quickly?

Uncheck the administrator option in the Outlook properties and restart Outlook. Restarting Windows Explorer, starting Outlook in Safe Mode and disabling extensions also help.

Does the new Outlook support drag and drop for attachments?

The new Outlook has limits with some drag and drop functions. Switching to Classic Outlook should fix the problem until Microsoft adds more support.

How can I save attachments from many emails at once?

SysTools Outlook Attachment Extractor saves attachments from bulk PST files and keeps the original folder structure. Users can also filter by date, sender, subject and attachment type. Both Unicode and ANSI PST files work.